Longtime Y member. Used to love it. Since Covid, the hours have been cut (I used to come and just walk on the treadmill and do a few weights at 9, 10 PM) but now they close at 9 PM, 7 PM on weekends. Staff does not enforce Y guidelines, so you could be on a treadmill or stationery bike and you have to endure other people talking loudly on their phones. If you complain about this, staff do nothing and act as if you are impertinent and demanding. Heaven help you if you have a membership issue/question. You have to sit in the lobby and take a number, and waits are often 15+ minutes. This is a superb facilty, but it is very poorly managed. read more

YWCA Midtown has a great crew working there, and the facilities are great. Highly recommended. read more

I've been a member of the YWCA for years but didn't visit the Midtown location until this year, when a water leak at the Downtown location changed my plans. The YWCA is an amazing organization and the gym facilities are top-notch. There are a LOT of group fitness classes that are included in the membership, which gives you a chance to stay in shape and hang out with your fitness buddies! The first thing you see when you enter the Midtown location are the friendly and helpful staff members at the desk. Given how huge the facility is, I'll bet they get asked for directions ALL the time. They are always friendly and cheerful, willing to help or just chat a moment. Just beyond the desk you can see the pool and they are not messing around. I wish I was a kid again and my parents would bring me here! There are so many bright and colorful features in the pool make me want to jump in and play! There are also a ton of classes and lessons that take place here; a very popular feature! Me? I hit the weights, which are located upstairs in multiple locations. I would have thought this location would be packed, but the space and layout helps to provide enough room for everyone to workout. You can also find some quiet studio space for a some peaceful stretching after the workout. The gym is huge and even hosts pickleball! I don't quite understand the game - and I don't see anyone eating pickles - but it's pretty popular. I'm glad it's available for the game, which is open to non-members as well as members. What is also huge is the track which encompasses the sports facility. Many days I've been there and watched youth soccer clinics in progress. It's a fun distraction while I get my steps in. read more

I have a membership ($75 per month) with this Y and while it's close to my house and an advocate for racial and social justice, I can't say I am a happy member. Everything is broken at this facility! If it's not the drinking fountains, it's the showers, or the pool or the hot tub. I mainly use the facility for their pool and have to call ahead every time I visit to ensure it's not out of order because their website is inconsistent. Maybe $75 is a deal for a gym membership but it would be nice to have a fully operational facility. read more

Great location this is the biggest of the Minneapolis YWCA chain. They have a huge track 6 lap miles for upper track and 8 for lower. They host the indoor triathlon series in the winter winter and I have done many 5k sets here. Pool is nice with dedicated kid area. Weight room is very nice and never gets over crowded. read more

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Been going here since I was 10 I'm 21 now so it's been a great experience while I got older but when I was younger they used to treat us kids with no respect yelling at us when we make mistakes which is normal for a 10-15 year old to make mistakes but other then that I have had a great time here and would recommend to adults if they wanna work out and swim! read more

I've been working out of town and requested to cancel my membership. They said I can only do it in person and there is nothing they can do about it. That I had signed an agreement. This after I have been paying for a membership for the last 6 months without using. I did that to support the YWCA and our community. Where's the customer service? There are other reasons for the 1 Star review, like paid parking lot, unclean machines, kids at night playing on machines, without an adult with them, etc... read more

If you join they will never let you quit. It is way too hard to stop. You can't do it remotely. You have to go there and wait for a nonexistent person to deign to see you. I got tired of waiting for the privilege of quitting and handed them my membership card and said "I quit." But they are still billing my account. We'll see how my next attempt goes. Next visit: the person in charge of membership cancellation did not respond to pages from the front desk. read more

I come here regularly (Midtown) because it's nearby and it's a nice facility. Staff are generally nice too. My issue is that I play basketball and the schedule is inconsistent. Us basketball players seem to be pretty disposable because we get pushed aside for random events, soccer, etc. without notice. When the childcare program wants to use the gym, they come in and use half and we don't have any issue sharing the space. There was pickle ball going on one day and only half the gym was being used so I asked to use the other half to play basketball. My request was rejected. This was such a waste of space and in this case was poorly managed. I just feel we don't get treated fairly. The basketball courts are very active and there's an awesome group of kids that play there all the time. We pay good money to be here and I hope there's some improvement in scheduling transparency and mindfulness of how the space is used. I still don't understand why soccer is being played on the membership side basketball courts on Sundays now. They weren't designed for soccer. The sports center side has every court being used for soccer that day and now it's taking over our basketball open gym time. I'm pretty frustrated. Anyways, I'm always going to advocate for the hoopers on the courts because we really love playing. That's my review. read more

Well... An update for me. I came crawling back. This is the closest gym to my house and life is just easier the closer you are to the gym. I cannot get through the winters in Minnesota without a gym and whirlpool. Well...I could.... but I don't wanna. Parking is still rough. But my kids are older now, so it's not as big of a deal. I advise not going during times that have the silver sneakers classes or swimming lessons because it's crazy busy then. The pool is so great for little kids. Much better than the YMCA. Starts at zero depth. The childcare is a million times better now that I don't have a baby. I still highly recommend going elsewhere if you have a child under 13 months. You just cannot get in easily with a younger child. My kid loves going and staff is kind to her and calls me back to schedule time relatively quickly. The track is so much better than anywhere else. It's huge so you don't feel like a gerbil. Machines are updated. You can watch Netflix while you sweat. I still wish you didn't have to have a quarter for the family lockers. I still wish our cards could be on my keys instead of having to dig through my wallet for my and my kid's cards, but I'll probably live. read more

First of all, I love the Downtown YWCA. I'd give it four stars. But after belonging to this facility in Midtown for 5 years, my family is leaving for the YMCA. The reason for leaving has everything to do with a completely broken membership department. I won't bore you with the details, but unless you have the patience of a saint, you will find registering and changing registrations the most frustrating, bureaucratic time suck of your life. We're just done. The women's locker room here is primitive, unbearably crowded and overrun with too many people. Many lockers are broken, and there isn't enough room to change without pushing against other people. The weight/cardio room upstairs is cramped, outdated and not well supervised, and small children clamber all over the equipment in ways that are not safe. Similarly, children and left unsupervised by the running track, and they engage in a lot of dangerous situations with equipment out there. The front desk is under-staffed. Usually there is only one person there to check in everyone, handle problems, check out equipment, manage guest passes and lost IDs, fetch a membership person, look in the lost and found, and serve a cup of coffee. In general, parents do a poor job at this facility of supervising their children, and I say this as a mother of four. Around the pool, the guards constantly have to reprimand kids who don't care about the rules. For fitness swimmers, this pool is a poor fit. The lap lanes are filled with quite inexperienced novices who slow things down and don't understand lane etiquette. The group classes are quite enormous. The spinning rooms are crammed and I went to a Zumba class that had about 100 people in it. This facility serves a great purpose in serving the migrant community in south Minneapolis, and gives those families a safe place for recreation. Love that aspect. But if you are serious about fitness and need to get in and out efficiently, this is not a fit for you. read more

A word of warning - Please do NOT make me have to ask you to get off of the cardio machine that I signed up for. Seriously, I've never been to a gym where such a large number of people refuse to abide by the rules set up for using the machines. The only people I believe don't know about the rules are the children, but their parents should be watching them (not to mention, WHY is there a 10 year old on the elliptical in the first place?) I go 5 or 6 times a week and not a week goes by where I don't have to be the THERE IS A SIGN UP SHEET FOR THIS SHIT police. You are an adult and you KNOW there is a sheet so just use it. Other than that, the place is huge, clean and newish, so life's not that bad. I'm not a big fan of the hours, though. I made the mistake of getting up super early on a Saturday and driving out there (I live on the opposite side of town) only to find out that they open at 7:30. I've been a member of gyms that have all opened up by 6 on the weekends, so that has taken a little getting used to. Last weekend I showed up at 8:30 at night, got on the machines and suddenly the lights went out. They close at 9? WHAT. I could have sworn it was 10. Whatever. Oh, and to the just-out-of-high-school teeny tiny girls moving like maniacs on the ellipticals, all slumped over and looking like you are about to pass out - just stop. Please. I can keep up with you, but I'm a big girl so I look like I'm just dedicated to eventually MAYBE looking like you. You, on the other hand, just look like an after-school special. read more

Confession: If a gym does not have a sauna- a nice, wood, hot sauna- I will not go. I'm a child and I need a treat at the end of my workout and I've accepted that. The YWCA's sauna was a part (.... sizable part) of why I signed up at this gym. Saunas are good for you! They detoxify your body! They make you WARM in the middle of January! You get to listen to mouth-breathing strangers! They're da bomb! Besides the sauna, there's a giant indoor running track that pirouettes above a gym area that's usually full of rioting teenagers and families playing soccer/volleyball/basketball, providing a great diversion when you're literally running in circles. They recently brought in a fleet of new weight machines, and their cardio equipment is solid. Their pool area looks like it was dreamed up by a committee of 5-year olds, because it has slides, fountains, and a wading pool, aka "Kid Paradise". But outside of the amenities, this YWCA is a great place to spend time. It's full of families of all nationalities and races and socioeconomic backgrounds, and usually crawling with kids who are thankfully given their own family locker rooms. Plus, the YWCA is committed to empowering girls and women and combating racism. I like having a gym membership that combats racism. That's hot. That's what my co-worker would call "Two cookies in one mouth." read more

I just recently joined and was previously member with YMCA. There is a sense of pride from being a member of...."fighting racism and empowering women". The TWCA is "On a Mission". I have only been a member for one week, but I already love the facility at Midtown for it's diverse membership and easy feel. The parking is an issue and members should not have to pay. I will be researching and figuring out how to become involved towards change. It is already expensive without parking....we need to do something about it. I do like it more than YMCA, however, so I will continue to be a member. read more

I love my gym. I rededicated myself to fitness at the end of November, and the YWCA Midtown has pretty much become my home sense then. I used to just come and run on the treadmill, but I started attending a few classes to have some more structure. The result? I've been at the gym 5 days a week since November. AND lost 20 pounds! My favorite class, by far, is Chisel. It's a strength training class, and it kicks your butt. The instructor is both hilarious and evil. I also love Fit N' Tone H20 and Zumba. Zumba classes with Bernice are more dance party than fitness class. My favorite thing at the Y is the environment. It's just so friendly. I've never felt embarrassed or self-conscious. People in classes are quick to offer tips or just smiles. It's a great place. The best deal here is to start a dual membership with someone, especially if you can make it in enough times a month to get your health insurance discount. read more

I love this pace! It's a beatiful, clean place to work out. I also love that it's not just another for-profit yuppie fitness mill, but it's a community non-profit whose mission is to empower girls. Awesome. It's also nice that the membership is so diverse, in basically every way you can imagine. And the yoga classes are good, too. read more

This is my first experience joining a gym. I am very pleased with my experience at the YWCA Midtown facility. I love how inclusive the dance exercise groups are-varying ages, race, fitness levels. It feels very welcoming and supportive! The pool and in general the facility is well maintained-very nice locker rooms! I have members and staff to be friendly and supportive. read more

I've belonged to many a gym, and I have to say, I'm a fan of the Midtown YWCA. It's not usually super-packed and there's lots of room to do your thing. Locker rooms are good and I've liked most of the classes I've taken. Only two tiny complaints: 1. Kids allowed to roam around and use machines, which is both annoying and frightening to watch. Perhaps kids shouldn't be allowed out there? 2. Class times are kiiiind of ridiculous. I'd LOVE to take so many classes, but I'm at work during 99% of them. Some more early morning or late evening would be fabulous. read more

This is the place to go if you have kids. Kids are everywhere and roam freely. That's okay, they need somewhere safe to go! (Though I do wish they had some more supervision around the machines.) I'm so so jealous of the swimming pool with the fountain thing and giant slide. It looks like fun, but I would never go because it's always full of children. Do they have adults only time? That said, parking is free (though I've actually only been here on Sundays, and it's always packed, like can't find anywhere to park packed). The space is new, pretty open and clean, and I like taking classes here (Zumba with Tania WUT WUT). I'm not a fan of the machines though. They're too crowded together in one space and it makes it look like a people factory. read more

I've had a membership at this location for several years now but only recently have come to fully enjoy and appreciate the full scope of what a membership here can offer. This location provides a ton of variety to keep you interested and excited about getting and staying fit. There are plenty of fitness machines even during peak times so that everyone gets a chance to access them. By limiting time and monitoring this area they really do keep this process running smoothly. Same with the weights. They offer such a wide variety of equipment for all levels of experience that there is never a wait to get access to what you need when you need it. The full size indoor track provides a clean, well lit, heated in the winter and cooled in the summer space to run all year round. The pool facilities are really nice and provide plenty of activities for both experienced swimmers as well as adults and kids who just want to enjoy some fun times in the water. On top of all of this they offer an impressive selection of classes in a wide range of types of exercise from beginner on up to expert, all of which are included in the membership! This paired with access to trainers for in the moment advice and inquiries add up to a well supported fitness learning environment. The rest of their facilities are equally nice. The locker room, showers, saunas, steam room and hot tub offer plenty of opportunities to relax and refresh after a good work-out and the staff is incredibly friendly and helpful. The best part about this YWCA though is the sense of community. Often times gyms can be intimidating spaces where those of us who are average human beings would feel intimidated. Not true of this gym. The level of diversity here rivals that of any other establishment that I frequent in the cities and is a beautiful representation of the larger community in which it resides. I truly have come to feel like this gym is an extension of the community in which I live. read more

The YWCA is probably your best bet when you are looking for a gym membership in South Minneapolis. Some of the local AND chain gyms around here are small and uber-expensive like over $60 a month. YWCA offers household memberships at a discount so get your roommate to join and you are good to go. They also have deals for certain jobs and insurance that cancels the reg fee, for example oif you work for the City. When you get a membership to the Y you can go to Midtown (this location), Uptown, or Downtown. Downtown has no parking. Nuff said. Uptown is crazy busy, even outside of peak hours. AND you have to pay for parking. Only if you stay until past 10:30 pm will they let you leave without paying. There is one really cute worker there but other than that I see no reason to go unless it's past 9 pm. The Midtown location is by far the best. I go later than most so I've never had trouble parking. The facility is huge and there are less people than at Uptown so it's not crowded; there's a max 15 minute wait if you sign up for a cardio machine and plenty of space in the stretching rooms. At uptown I always felt like somebody's crotch was very near to my face. Anyway, this place is big, clean, and has a diverse crowd so people-watching while you run is pretty great too--I see families at this location and that's always uplifting. Also, they play The Biggest Loser on television in front of the ellipticals and gosh darn if that isn't some good motivation. read more

Staff - Friendly and polite, though the front desk is often strained in their abilities to handle phone calls and check people in. There are Spanish-speakers that often man the front, too. Cardio - Most machines work well. Some machines are pretty run down. I disagree that machines are dated, per other reviews. There are newer model Concept 2 rowers and some nice treadmills that play video of cool places while you run. I think they have steady rotation trying to get rid of the new. I rarely have trouble finding some kind of machine I like. My biggest beef isn't kids on the machines, it's kids or adults doing inappropriate things on machines like all out sprinting for 10 seconds, hopping off, hopping back on, etc. This tends to be noisy and unnecessary. Also, there are occasionally kids who shout stuff to each other around the machines. Weights- Generally good. Standard weight room etiquette issues arise. I am bummed that dropping weights is verboten since I'd like to work on max deadlifts and the like. Lots of fancy machines as well as plain ole freeweights. In general, the lifters are nice and not pushy or rude. Studios - Not much to say since I rarely use them. They look nice. Pool - Awesome and pretty dang clean which was surprising to me given the reviews. I only have problems with crowded lanes during swim team practice, but i find I can split a lane easily if I hop in when one is free and continue to use it. The chlorine level is magnifico... not crazy high like so many pools. The hot tub is nice. The kids pool seems cool, too. Steam room rulez. Locker room - Usually a little grimy, but passable. I have one HUGE beef here: The showers are always broken. There are apparently two water heaters, and most of the showers run off the worse one, leading to slow warm-up times and unreliably warm showers. Bathrooms are sometimes a little gross. Sauna is good. Parking - Rarely a problem. What's wrong with hoofing it a little bit. We're at the gym! Private parking anywhere in the city is a privilege. Culture - I'm pretty happy there's at least one gym in town that explicitly invites non-English-speakers and immigrants to be fit. I don't mind traditional/religious Somali garb in the pool or the gym. It's all good. read more

Last year, in an attempt to achieve my 2013 resolution (aka LOSE THE FLAB), I started gym membership shopping. I looked at four places: the midway LA Fitness, the Roseville Lifetime, the midway YMCA, and the midtown YWCA. Why I chose the YWCA: - Lifetime Fitness was too hard to find, and I hate driving up in Roseville/dealing with HWY 36 - LA Fitness had the weirdest, most "anti- feng shui" layout ever. Plus the entire membership process reminded me of a cheesy used car salesman WAY too much. Where is this deal going that it won't be around in a day? No where. Fail. I also get really weirded out whenever I see too much preening at a gym. I'm here to get sweaty, not look sexy. - the midway YMCA was pretty meh. The ventilation didn't seem all that great, it was a very small facility, unfortunately a no. - The midtown YWCA rules. Why does it rule? - Well, for one, the scholarship program made it possible for me to become a member (yay Americorps living allowance). The process was VERY easy. It is available in different languages and, if you need help, someone can assist you with filling it out. You don't need to have your tax return to complete it. I'm a huge, huge fan of any organization that wants to bring healthy living and women's rights to the masses. - the building is beautiful. yeah sure, the locker room is pretty meh, but I love the open layout of the upstairs workout area and all of the huge windows. And the kids pool...I WISH I could go swim in there without looking like a giant weirdo. The open track is also a huge plus. - tons of space to work out. No claustrophobia. No "prison feel". You can even use the classrooms when they aren't occupied. It's also well ventilated and even has filtered water! - helpful staff. Have any questions? Machine not working? Need some pointers? Want information? The staff here has always been very helpful. Yes, the front door people could smile more or even seem a bit happier...but everyone else has been extremely helpful and friendly. - tons of classes. I am a huge HUGE fan of their Thursday Zumba class. LOVE IT. Such a wide variety of people all together to sweat our assess off. Zero pretentiousness or judgement of any kind - we're all just here to lose weight, "dance", and have fun. If you're looking for a gym membership this January to help achieve your 2014 health and fitness resolutions, I highly recommend the midtown YWCA. read more

The Y-dub is a great deal if you're a gym goer. The Midtown location is just a couple of years old, mammoth and ship-shape. The fitness center is part I most used, and that has enough machines to prevent waits except at peak times. They have a good sign-up system so that even if it's all full you can usually get what you want within a half hour (make sure you sign up as soon as you get here - then go change in the locker room - good strategy). Huge windows cover the long long length of the far wall. They look out on the parking lot, but watching people come and go is surprisingly meditative when you're having a good run. Lots of trashy magazines, which is important for lengthy bike work. They also offer some free classes, so you can do CORE Power in the studio if you show up at the right time. Saunas in the locker rooms and an Olympic sized pool for the aquatically inclined. Not enough parking, for which it loses a star. I also had some issues with the way they billed me - mostly it's confusing because you pay a couple of months in advance. But they'll take insurance credits, which is nice and if you sign up with a couple of friends it works out to about $40 per month. That's a great deal for all the amenities here. Winter time is the only time I can handle the gym, and it's coming. I wish I still lived near this Y. read more

I've been a member at other gyms and this has been the best experience. It is affordable. It has a diverse membership. It is a community based, non-profit doing good things. The workout area has plenty of machines, and a good sign-up system. I use the pool on a regular basis, in fact the pool was one of the reason I joined. It has the largest indoor track in the state. And great classes -- most of them free. They also have a great endurance sports program that includes several indoor triathlons. The staff and instructors are always helpful, knowledgeable, and friendly. The gym itself, and the locker rooms are very clean. I would definitely recommend the Midtown Y to friends. I like it there. read more

I meet with a personal trainer every week for 60 mins. I was hesitant at first. I am blown away by my experience so far. My trainer has taken the time to work with me and has been compassionate about meeting me where i am at. Started at 342 lbs and in less then a month I am at 320 lbs. She is friendly but pushes me to makes necessary changes for weight loss, food choices, and overall health. I have been looking at my life and health choices differently and am so happy with my results. The amount of help and knowledge that i have received from her has majorly changed my life. read more

The only reason I don't end my membership here is that it's 6 blocks from my home. It has grown beyond it's seams and I'm stressed out most of the time I go there. I'll have to admit it is a great teaching tool for tolerance of: Unclean pools, locker rooms and classrooms, rules of dress code not being adhered to. Loud patrons, adults and children alike and cultures different than mine. I'm very tolerant of the immigrant population in our city, but they are the biggest annoyance. Children are not supervised, women yell at each other louder than the girls in the otter swim teams in the locker rooms and they don't shower or change from workout clothing before getting into pools. These courtesies and rules are not managed by the staff and I feel they are afraid to offend. I don't want to sound like a priviledged white person, but what about my experience for what I pay for my membership? read more

Very expensive and the interior looks like a federal prison. I don't understand why someone would want to work out here. Lifetime Athletic is across the street and although memberships there start at 99 dollars you can see why it's valued at that. YWCA has a joining fee of almost 200 $ NO LIE! joining should be free! If you want to go here and pretend your ending racism or feeding all the kids in Africa your NOT! They should be offering scholarships to all low income clients who can provide an EBT card but they don't. They make the scholarship process difficult, I asked about the scholarship just to see and it's true. If they want to help the community they can do it by burning an incense in there every once in awhile and being affordable. read more

I am typically all for tolerance and learning about new cultures, but the Somali population is making that very difficult. Whomever gives this population access really needs to coach them on proper gym etiquette. Intrusive smells, obnoxious children, wearing the same full length garb in the pool that you were wearing on the treadmill...there are so many issues with this particular population at the gym. Don't get me started on their particularly bad parking habits (completely ignoring the one way sign in the lot) that will eventually lead to an accident if it hasn't already. It really seems that they don't want to make any attempt at integrating into our culture, and that's an issue. The equipment is dated. The staff, with the exception of a couple individuals, is very indifferent. I've never even seen a manager. I'm most likely going to find another gym that is free of these issues. So if you don't want to work out in little somalia, prefer current equipment, and would like a staff that is functional...go to a different gym. read more

Tons of trashy inconsiderate people, flithy stretching mats, kids running amoke everywhere and no where to park. The sad thing is it could be so great. I really like some of the class instructors and the huge running track (which would be wonderful if there werent so many people just messing around up there and getting in the way, seriously, its 6pm and packed, does your 3 year old need to be up there? THEY HAVE DAY CARE) Honestly, if you are looking for a pleasant gym experience, move on. Im quitting to join Lifetime where I dont have to listen to kids scream and bang on walls during the "quiet time" of my yoga class. Its ridiculous. The bad parents that dont watch their kids ruin it for everyone, they are going to have to make a no kids policy in the workout areas if they want to run a quality club. I notice the mentions of the place being clean are over a year old, its very dirty now. The day I finally quit there was hotdog vomit in the pool area drinking fountain- peace out -Im gone. read more

I have been a member for over 2 years. I love the place. They have Badminton courts set up Sunday-Tuesday which is a huge plus for me.

Great place. Generally pretty clean and most staff is very friendly and nice. I love it there. So why the low review? Because.... who ever is in the back room running the place doesn't have a clue. And there doesn't seem to be a way to contact them. The staff out in front give me email addresses, but no one ever replies to my comments. I point out that they need more dance classes. And we get..... more yoga classes. Actually, they did introduce "Barre Absolute" which sounded like it was going to be a dance class, but turned out to be (you guessed it) more yoga. With pointed toes. I've got nothing against yoga, but the class offerings seem to be a choice between strictly cardio/no fun, weight lifting, and yoga. The only thing in between is Zumba. I need FUN people, or I'm liable to remember I'm exercising and just stop. So why don't they schedule more Zumba classes? Good question -- right now, the Th evening Zumba is bursting at the seams and the Sa morning class is so full it takes up the whole gym (gets a lot more people than Hi Lo...). And I happen to know that they have THREE whole other Zumba instructors who seem to WANT a class (least, that's what they tell me), but who only get to show up as a sometime sub or as a helper. When they have subbed, they've been GREAT. So why doesn't the Y open up a few more classes with them as instructors? And if I (who know nothing) know of THREE competent instructors who want to do this, there surely have to be a lot more. (And they lost Mehdi -- who was great. I guess he needed a full time job and more time with the family. I support that. But there have got to be other people out there like him who could teach a class.) I keep sending emails to what I'm told are the appropriate places to suggest these things. I never get a response. Based on the class offerings, I'm guessing no one even read my emails. Or, well, maybe they "know better". And I won't even get into the locked gate at the end of the parking lot that makes people have to walk all the way around if they have to park on the street outside because the lot is full (because whoever's in charge refuses to even consider the idea of a parking garage -- although I don't want to suggest that anymore than community planners already have because they'd probably start charging for parking). read more

Save Your Membership Money!!! The exception to this caveat would be if you're really only going to use the Downtown or Uptown branches of the YWCA. My spouse and I have been members since last year. We wanted something closer to home than our old YMCA. We thought we'd save money by paying for a full year in advance. What a mistake!!! We knew after a couple weeks that it was the wrong place--for us. This review will necessarily compare YWCA branches here in Minneapolis, thus explaining my rating above of two stars--instead of zero. First, you should understand that the Midtown Y's original agreement with the city of Mpls. required it to admit any Mpls. school pupil--for free! It is in fact, partly an athletic adjunct of the city's school system. Added to this, as a non-profit, dedicated to "empowering women/eliminating racism," great numbers of folks here pay little or nothing to use the facility. So if you like subsidizing all those good causes with your nearly $100/month family membership, this is the place for you. If this sounds mean-spirited, I'd remind you of the old truism that something received for nothing usually goes unappreciated by the lucky recipients. There is never a time of day when this place isn't crawling with kids. Afternoons and evenings in the men's locker room, which is not separated from the boys' locker room (appealing to some, I suppose) are usually noisy and unsupervised as boys crowd the adults out of the showers and sauna, and generally run around shouting at each other and banging the lockers open and closed. Especially in winter, all this frenetic energy expenditure is probably necessary because, I swear, they must turn the heat off from September to April in there! Oh well, hanging around the showerroom isn't advised anyway. Only two showerheads provide enough water flow to keep any body heat in. By the way gals, if the showers worked better, a higher percentage of your male compatriots might spend a little time washing their "naughty bits" before plunging into your beloved whirlpool! That reminds me. Just the other afternoon, two young mothers climbed out of the whirlpool along with their diaper-clad toddlers. I suppose they had just finished with the infant swimming lessons! Yeeuuushhh! I have observed none of this aggravation when going to the Downtown and Uptown branches. They are much more adult-oriented, absolutely cleaner, quieter, and safer-feeling. Another reviewer here mentions that one must pay to park at these two facilities. It's just a buck, for crying out loud! What that dollar buys is a parking spot that is much bigger and wider and better protected than Midtown's huge lot with its narrow, cramped spots. This is important, because the beat up jalopies filling the Midtown lot have to compete for space with your nice car AND those of a host of light-rail commuters (the station is 200 feet away!) who scarf up the spaces in the morning. If you arrive for your workout after 5 PM, in winter's darkness, you'll probably wait a long while for any spot. When you finally get in, though, there are usually crowds using the exercise machines and the swimming pools. Another writer complained about having to register and reserve most of the workout machines. That sure is fun! The other branches are completely different. Downtown is practically deserted most of the day and throughout the weekends. Uptown, while alot busier, is full of people intent on working out their bodies, not working out their issues as is the case at Midtown. Speaking of issues, would it be so hard to act like you're glad to see me when I walk in the place? Only a couple Midtown staffers bother to say hello. I don't think it's just because of me--I'm not really that grouchy--in person. Most of the women "manning" the desk seem bothered that I would distract them from their reading material long enough to hand them my membership card. Again, compared with the other Y's, the difference here is HUGE! We'll probably continue using the branches we like until our membership expires, then we have to seriously consider rejoining or moving back to the YMCA. We had been members at the Blaisdell branch of the Ym for more than 25 years each. In fact, my spouse and I got to know each other there. Perhaps readers will think my rant here is racist and sexist, I suppose. I can assure you, however, that the staff at Blaisdell YMCA is doing better at promoting racial equality AND empowering women. The latter goal is best fulfilled by those who "just do it" instead of pontificating about it. P.S. Can anyone tell me how GREEN it is when both sets of doors are almost continually leaking warm air or cooled air because they fail to close properly? And no, they don't consider everybody's health insurance rebate programs. There now, I've said it! read more

I love this gym, especially the track. I just rejoined this location, after years away due to a move. I rejoined since I now pass it during my commute. Things I've always loved about this location are still present: the people aren't pretentious, there's a huge range of ages and cultures represented, the indoor track is one of the best I've used in a single building gym facility (windows!), everyone is friendly (patrons/employees), great hours, clean, tons of natural light, and a comfortable layout. This is a great facility and I am so happy to be a member again! read more

Been a member since 2009. I go to the uptown location. Usually go to this one when I don't have much time. Now I'm not sure if I should stay coming to this one. There are always kids on the machines. Playing around on them and not doing anything. No parents around. Walking on the treadmill barefooted and on the bikes barefooted. The restrooms are always dirty. Even though there are cleaners walking around all the time. They're still dirty. The locker rooms are out dated There's also a man at least 40 years old that uses the boys locker room, which is for under 16 I believe. The man doesn't go in or out with no children, PERVERT. Also late evenings before closing there's also group of teenagers that hangout behind the check in counter, by the stairs to go up to the fitness floor, cursing up a storm all the time. The managers on duty in guessing do know what's going on cause they always seem to walk right pass it as its happening. Now some good things... The track is amazing (while kids aren't running all around on it) The classes are great here. Step, R.I.P.P.E.D. Are my fav classes. The machines are good too. Expect the elliptical safe a very outdated and the step machines are really ran down. read more

Affordable. Super-diverse membership. Nonprofit doing good things. Recently renovated workout area. Two pools, huge track, great classes -- many free. Good discounts for families and students -- Can go to uptown or downtown with your membership. I dont know anyone that doesn't like the YWCA. Maybe that's why it can get a little too crowded. More free weights would be nice, but it seems like cardio machines have a higher demand, so nice that they just added some more read more

Great place, but the placement of the new equipment is horrible. The flow of the workout area is really disrupted. If you are need of a spot on a bench press you're in trouble. Please fix this!!!!! read more

my review is based solely on membership. it is terrible. after several months, i realized that the guy who signed me up told me he was giving me a student membership but actually didn't, so i was paying more than i should have. i could never get a hold of anyone in their office to fix it, so finally i gave up knowing that my membership would end after a year (which it apparently doesn't--it just renews). i was having some medical problems and wasn't able to go to the gym, so i called them to cancel and see why i was still being charged, and after finally getting someone on the phone, they wouldn't even take the last month's charge off, and threatened to charge me for an extra month. what a nice, community place. :/ read more

Nothing but good things to say. I joined a few months ago and it's been great. Clean, easy to access any class I want, plenty of machines, and a real chill atmosphere. I don't really understand all the negative comments. I suppose if you're looking for a fancy, Lululemon-filled gym where the prices are so high only snobby white people can join, then yeah, this wouldn't be the place for you. But if you're looking for a clean, friendly, welcoming-to-all-bodies gym, this is it. I love that it's a shared space for so many different people in the community. As for the people I see complaining about parking, I'm not sure what to tell you. I usually walk from my house a few blocks away and that takes me 10 minutes. So even if the lot was completely full, you could easily park on a side street and be fine. But, the times I've driven I've never had an issue. The only reason I give it 4 stars, instead of 5, is because it would be great if they offered more advanced classes before and after work. In my dream world there'd be a yoga class at 5:30am every day... but I suppose there just aren't the numbers to support that. read more

I am very comfortable at this gym. The front desk staff is a welcomed treat at 6am, always smiling and happy to see you. They remember my name and always comment about something from my previous visit. Amazing people. The gym is clean and the equipment is well kept. Personal trainers are very nice and knwo what they are doing. Locker rooms are also very clean and they have great water pressure in the showers. I don't like that there aren't lockers to keep your items in permanently, but that's a small trade off for all the other greatness. read more